Kragerø Grand Prix 2026 – VT Tour takes place on September 4-6, 2026, in Kragerø, Norway. The event offers a 6-round mixed rapid and classical tournament at Kragerø Sportell.
This is a chess tournament in Kragerø, Norway, in 2026. Players can compete in two rating-based groups, with rapid games on Friday evening and classical games during the weekend.
The tournament forms part of the Vestfold og Telemark GP Tour 2026. In addition, the playing venue offers accommodation on site, which makes the event practical for players traveling to Kragerø.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | Kragerø Grand Prix 2026 – VT Tour |
| 📅 Dates | September 4-6, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Kragerø, Norway |
| 🏛️ Venue | Kragerø Sportell, Lovisenbergveien 20, 3770 Kragerø, Norway |
| ♟️ Format | Mixed rapid and classical Swiss tournament |
| 🔢 Rounds | 6 rounds |
| ⏱️ Time control | Rounds 1–2: 20 minutes + 10 seconds; Rounds 3–6: 90 minutes + 30 seconds |
| 💰 Prize fund | NOK 26,000 listed cash prizes, approximately $2,470 |
| 🏅 Series | Vestfold og Telemark GP Tour 2026 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The Kragerø Grand Prix 2026 uses a 6-round FIDE Dutch Swiss system. The tournament begins with two rapid rounds on Friday evening. After that, players continue with four classical rounds on Saturday and Sunday.
Rounds 1 and 2 use 20 minutes per player, plus a 10-second increment per move. Rounds 3 to 6 use 90 minutes per player, plus a 30-second increment per move.
Tie-breaks follow this order: points, direct encounter, FIDE Buchholz Cut 1, FIDE Buchholz Total, and average FIDE rating of opponents.
💰 Prize Fund
The listed cash prizes total NOK 26,000, approximately $2,470. Each participant can receive only one prize.
Group A Prizes
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | NOK 5,000 |
| 2nd place | NOK 2,500 |
| 3rd place | NOK 2,000 |
| 4th place | NOK 1,500 |
| 5th place | NOK 1,000 |
Group B Prizes
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | NOK 3,000 |
| 2nd place | NOK 2,500 |
| 3rd place | NOK 2,000 |
| 4th place | NOK 1,500 |
| 5th place | NOK 1,000 |
Category Prizes
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| Best female player | NOK 2,000 |
| Class 1 winner | NOK 1,000 |
| Class 3 winner | NOK 1,000 |
🧩 Sections / Groups
| Group | Rating guide |
|---|---|
| Group A | Players rated 1800 and above |
| Group B | Players rated below 1800 |
The tournament uses a rating split of 1800 for the two groups. This structure gives players a more suitable competitive field while keeping the Grand Prix format clear.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, September 4, 2026 | Before 19:00 | Attendance confirmation for unpaid or unconfirmed players |
| Friday, September 4, 2026 | 19:30 | Round 1 |
| Friday, September 4, 2026 | 20:45 | Round 2 |
| Saturday, September 5, 2026 | 10:00 | Round 3 |
| Saturday, September 5, 2026 | 15:00 | Round 4 |
| Sunday, September 6, 2026 | 09:00 | Round 5 |
| Sunday, September 6, 2026 | 14:00 | Round 6 |
Players who have paid the entry fee are automatically registered for Round 1. However, they should notify the organizer before 18:00 if they cannot play.
📝 Registration
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Online registration deadline | September 3, 2026, 23:59 |
| Entry fee by August 31, 2026 | NOK 600 |
| Junior U20 entry fee by August 31, 2026 | NOK 450 |
| Entry fee after August 31, 2026 | NOK 700 |
| Junior U20 entry fee after August 31, 2026 | NOK 550 |
| Free entry | GM, IM, and female players rated over 2000 in standard FIDE rating |
| Vipps payment | 125509 |
| Bank account | 2655.60.82552 |
| Withdrawal notice phone | +47 917 14 450 |
Players should pay before August 31, 2026 to receive the lower entry fee. In addition, unpaid or unconfirmed players must register at the venue before 19:00 on September 4.
🏛️ Organizer
Kragerø Sjakklubb organizes Kragerø Grand Prix 2026 as part of the Vestfold og Telemark GP Tour. The tournament gives players a compact weekend format with rapid games, classical games, cash prizes, and a strong local chess setting.
Email: truls.jorgensen@fiber.no
Phone: +47 917 14 450
📍 Venue
Kragerø Sportell, Lovisenbergveien 20, 3770 Kragerø, Norway
The tournament takes place at Kragerø Sportell. The venue also offers accommodation, which helps players stay close to the playing hall throughout the weekend.
🏨 Accommodation
Kragerø Sportell
Players can book reasonably priced accommodation directly at the playing venue. This option is useful for participants who want to avoid extra local travel between rounds.
Phone: +47 35 98 57 00
Website: www.kragerosportell.no
🚆 How to Get There
Players should use Kragerø Sportell, Lovisenbergveien 20, 3770 Kragerø, as the main navigation address.
Kragerø can be reached by road and regional transport from other parts of southern Norway. After arriving in the area, players can continue to Kragerø Sportell by car, taxi, or local transport.
ℹ️ Other Information
The tournament belongs to the Vestfold og Telemark GP Tour 2026. Therefore, players can compete for both tournament prizes and tour standings.
All paid players enter the first-round list automatically. Still, any paid player who cannot attend should notify the organizer before 18:00 on the first tournament day.
Kragerø Grand Prix 2026 offers a practical chess weekend with rapid action, classical games, and a welcoming coastal tournament atmosphere.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $2,470
Organizer
♟️ Club Identity
Kragerø Sjakklubb is a local chess club in Kragerø, Telemark, Norway. The club welcomes players who want to play chess, learn chess, and take part in a friendly chess environment in the town center. Its club activity takes place at Jens Lauersens bakke 2, where players meet for teaching, club tournaments, and regular chess evenings. The club has deep local roots, with chess activity in Kragerø mentioned from 1906 and the current club formally founded on September 13, 1919. In addition, Kragerø Sjakklubb Ungdom has operated continuously since its founding in 1978. Together, the adult club and youth club give Kragerø a stable chess base for beginners, juniors, families, club players, and competitive tournament participants.
🏆 Tournament Activity
Kragerø Sjakklubb organizes the Kragerø Grand Prix, a long-running Norwegian chess tournament held during the first weekend of September. The club’s own tournament page describes the event as an annual tournament arranged by Kragerø Sjakklubb. The 2026 edition appears in the Norwegian Chess Federation calendar as Kragerø Grand Prix 2026, with Kragerø SK listed as organizer and Truls R. Jørgensen listed as contact person. The tournament also connects with the VT Tour and the wider Norges Grand Prix structure, giving players a weekend format that combines rapid and classical chess. Recent editions have attracted strong participation, and the 2025 event formed part of both Norges Grand Prix 2025–26 and the Vestfold og Telemark GP Tour. Therefore, Kragerø Sjakklubb gives players a practical route into rated weekend chess on Norway’s south coast.
🌱 Youth Chess and Community Activity
Kragerø Sjakklubb supports youth chess, beginner training, and community chess through regular weekly activity. The club offers teaching for children and adults, while beginner courses run as part of the club’s public program. Young players can start through beginner sessions and continue with instruction for children who already have some chess experience. In addition, the club holds Monday club tournaments and creates a clear weekly rhythm for local players. The youth club gives families a dedicated chess environment, while the adult club keeps competitive and social chess active in Kragerø. The club also shares news through its website and Facebook page, which helps members follow training, tournaments, and club updates. As a result, Kragerø Sjakklubb serves both new players and experienced competitors, while keeping chess visible in the local community.
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